Carlton & United Breweries
Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) is an Australian brewing company based in Melbourne and owned by Japanese conglomerate Asahi Breweries. Its notable brands include Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Foster's Lager, Great Northern, Resch's, Pure Blonde and Melbourne Bitter.
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Key people | Peter Filipovic (CEO)[1] |
| Products | |
| Parent | Asahi Breweries |
| Website | cub |
CUB was established in 1907 as a merger of six existing breweries with Carl Pinschof as chairman[2] and became a public company in 1913. It first expanded outside Victoria in 1931 and acquired a number of other brewing companies over the following decades. In 1983 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Elders IXL and CUB was delisted from the stock exchange. In 1990, Elders IXL was renamed Foster's Group, and in July 2004, Fosters Group changed its name to Carlton & United Beverages.[3][4] In February 2009, CUB announced the decision to separate the Australian Wine division from the Australian Beer, Cider & Spirits (BCS) division, and rename BCS to Carlton & United Breweries.[5]
In December 2011, American multinational SABMiller acquired Foster's Group, and took over ownership of Carlton & United Breweries as part of the acquisition.[6] Subsequently, in October 2016, CUB was included in the purchase of SABMiller by Anheuser-Busch InBev.[7] SABMiller ceased trading on global stock markets[8][9] and as a result, Carlton & United was then owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev.[10]
In July 2019, Asahi Breweries agreed to purchase CUB, with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and Foreign Investment Review Board approving the deal in May 2020.[11][12]
History
Carlton and United Breweries was formed in 1907 with the merger of six major Australian breweries: Carlton Brewery, Castlemaine Brewery Company (Melbourne), Foster Brewing Company, McCracken's City Brewery, Shamrock Brewing and Malting Company and Victoria Brewery. The six breweries - along with another two (Melbourne Brewery and Distillery Pty Ltd and Coghlan and Tulloch's Ballarat Brewing Co Ltd) - had formed a cartel known as the Society of Melbourne Brewers in 1903. Emil Resch played a significant role in enabling the amalgamation. Resch also went on to become the first general manager of CUB.[13][14][15][16] The company became public in 1913 with the issue of 100,000 shares.
Over time it has bought out many other brewers, such as Abbotsford Co-operative Brewery in 1924 (a company set up by independent hoteliers to combat the anti-competitive nature of the Society of Melbourne Brewers.) Their first interstate acquisition was Northern Australian Breweries and the Cairns Brewery in 1931. Further acquisitions were the Ballarat Brewing Company, Queensland Brewery Ltd, Thos McLauchlin & Co Pty Ltd, Richmond Brewery and Tooth & Co.
In 1983, CUB was wholly bought by Elders IXL, a giant Australian diversified conglomerate with pastoral, financial, materials, and food interests. Elders Brewing Group (as it then became known as) continued to acquire brewing companies in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. In 1990 Elders Brewing Group changed its name to Foster's Group, to reflect the name of their most internationally recognised product.
In 1985, CUB purchased the Tooth and Co. site on Broadway in Sydney. The company demolished all of the existing Kent Brewery buildings on this site, except for one. CUB Management decided to close the Broadway site in 2003, with one of the reasons given being that it was a "large island of industry stranded in Sydney's central residential revival" that was happening in nearby Chippendale. In 2007, the site was sold and redeveloped into a commercial complex containing office blocks, shopping centre, and a boutique hotel known as The Old Clare Hotel.[17]
In July 2004, Carlton & United Breweries changed its name to Carlton & United Beverages (retaining CUB acronym), citing the company's diversification into pre-mixed drinks, juices, ciders and non-alcoholic drinks.[4][18]
In February 2009, Foster's announced the outcomes of a review of its global wine business, including the decision to separate the Australian Wine division from the Australian Beer, Cider & Spirits (BCS) division, and rename BCS to Carlton & United Breweries.[5]
In mid-June 2016 CUB made the controversial decision to lay off 55 workers (mostly electricians and fitters) before inviting those same workers to reapply for their old jobs on individual contracts involving stripped conditions, clauses and significant pay cuts (the workers are suggesting a 65 per cent wage cut once penalty rates and other entitlements are factored in).[19]
SABMiller, CUB's global owner, responded to criticisms from the union movement that its action was not illegal as it has no direct contractual relationship with the maintenance crews that were laid off. Rather, it has a contractual relationship with one subcontractor and the action constitutes the "passing" of a contract to another, which has the prerogative to set pay and conditions of workers at its own discretion. SABMiller have made no comment regarding the lower pay and poorer conditions offered to workers.
The decision generated considerable poor publicity for CUB, with a widespread social media campaign as well as union efforts to highlight the workers' plight, who argue the brewer has conducted a "transmission of business"[20] manoeuvre. Several pubs in Victoria have stopped selling CUB products in support of the sacked workers.[21]
In July 2019, Asahi Breweries agreed terms to purchase Carlton & United Breweries with the transaction completed in May 2020 after being cleared by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and Foreign Investment Review Board.[22][23]
Carlton Premium Beverages
In 2020 Asahi Beverages has announced that it will combine its two alcohol businesses Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) and Asahi Premium Beverages to form Carlton Premium Beverages.[24][25][26][27][28]
Products
After the takeovers by SABMiller and then Anheuser-Busch InBev, CUB distributed their international brands such as Aguila, Corona Extra, Stella Artois, Beck's, Budweiser, Hoegaarden, Leffe and Leffe Radieuse.[29]
| Beer[29] | Style | ABV | Hops etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Pines Brewing Co. Pale Ale | Ale | 5.1% | 35 IBU. |
| 4 Pines Brewing Co. Pacific Ale | Ale | 3.5% | 15 IBU. |
| Abbotsford Invalid Stout | Stout | 5.2% | |
| Abbots Lager | Lager | 5.2% | |
| Alpha Pale Ale | Ale | 5.2% | Cascade |
| Balter XPA | Ale | 5.0% | 30 IBU. |
| Balter Captain Sensible | Ale | 3.5% | 20 IBU. |
| Beez Neez | Wheat Braggot | 4.7% | |
| Brookvale Union Ginger Beer | Ginger Beer | 4.0% | Ginger Beer. |
| Carlton Black | Ale | 4.4% | Pride of Ringwood |
| Carlton Cold | Lager | 3.5% | Label changes colour when cold |
| Carlton Draught | Lager | 4.6% | |
| Carlton Dry | Lager | 4.5% | |
| Carlton Dry Peels | Lager | 4.0% | Made with lime, not available. |
| Carlton Midstrength | Lager | 3.0% | |
| Carlton Zero | 0% | ||
| Cascade Bitter | Lager | 4.4% | |
| Cascade Draught | Lager | 4.7% | |
| Cascade Pale Ale | Ale | 5.0% | |
| Cascade Premium Light | Lager | 2.4% | |
| Cascade Stout | Stout | 5.8% | |
| Crown Golden Ale | Ale | 4.5% | Galaxy |
| Crown Lager | Lager | 4.9% | Pride of Ringwood |
| Dogbolter Dark Lager | Dunkel | 5.2% | Hersbrucker |
| Fat Yak | Ale | 4.7% | |
| Foster's Lager | Lager | 4.9% | Pride of Ringwood |
| Foster's Light Ice | Lager | 2.3% | |
| Great Northern Super Crisp | Lager | 3.5% | |
| Green Beacon Brewing Co. 7 Bells Passion Fruit Sour | Gose | 4.2% | |
| Lazy Yak | Ale | 4.2% | |
| Melbourne Bitter | Lager | 4.6% | Pride of Ringwood |
| Mountain Goat GOAT | Lager | 4.2% | Galaxy and Ella hops, 22 IBU. |
| Mountain Goat IPA | Ale | 6.5% | American style IPA, 70 IBU. |
| Power's Gold | Lager | 3.0% | Discontinued. |
| Power's Ultra Smooth Lager | Lager | 4.0% | |
| Pirate Life IPA | Ale | 6.8% | |
| Pure Blonde Premium Mid | Lager | 3.0% | |
| Pure Blonde Ultra Low Carb | Lager | 4.2% | Hersbrucker |
| Redback | Wheat Beer | 4.7% | Saaz and Pride of Ringwood |
| Resch's | Pilsener | 4.4% | |
| Richmond Lager | Lager | 4.4% | |
| Sheaf Stout | Stout | 5.7% | originally by Tooth and Co. |
| VB Gold | Lager | 3.5% | |
| Victoria Bitter | Lager | 4.9% | |
| Wild Yak | Ale | 4.2% | |
| Cider[30] | ABV |
|---|---|
| Bulmers Original | 4.7% |
| Bulmers Pear | 4.7% |
| Dirty Granny | 5.5% |
| Mercury Draught Cider | 5.2% |
| Mercury Dry Cider | 5.2% |
| Mercury Hard Cider Original | 6.9% |
| Strongbow Original Apple | 5.0% |
| Strongbow Dry Apple Cider | 5.0% |
| Strongbow Lower Carb | 5.0% |
| Strongbow Sweet Apple Cider | 5.0% |
| Strongbow Rosé Apple Cider | 5.0% |
| Spirits[31] | ABV |
|---|---|
| Akropolis Ouzo | 37% |
| The Black Douglas | 40% |
| Cougar Bourbon | 37% |
| Mist Wood Gin | 37% |
| Nikka Whisky | 37% |
| Spicebox Whisky | 37% |
| Tequila Blu | 37% |
| Untold Spiced Rum | 37% |
| Vodka Cruiser | 37% |
| Vodka O | 37% |
| Woodstock Bourbon | 37% |
References
Citations
- "NEW CUB CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN | Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)". cub.com.au.
- Raoul F. Middelmann, 'Pinschof, Carl Ludwig (1855–1926)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pinschof-carl-ludwig-8052/text14049, published first in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 20 September 2022.
- History of Carlton & United Breweries, AustralianBeers.com. Accessed 2009-10-10.
- "ASX Announcement - CUB Name Change". Fosters.com.au (Press release). 1 July 2004. Archived from the original on 15 November 2008.
- Foster's announces the outcomes from its wine review, ASX announcement 17 February 2009, Media Centre, fosters.com.au. Accessed 2009-10-10.
- "SABMiller Acquisition". Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
- "Company Overview of SABMiller Limited". Bloomberg. Bloomberg. 14 November 2016.
The company was formerly known as South African Breweries plc and changed its name to SABMiller plc in July 2002.
- Dill, Molly (10 October 2016). "Anheuser-Busch to complete acquisition of SABMiller today". BizTimes. BizTimes Media LLC. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- Nurin, Tara (10 October 2016). "It's Final: AB InBev Closes On Deal To Buy SABMiller". Forbes. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
SABMiller ceased trading on global stock markets last week
- Carter, Bridget (2 December 2015). "AB Inbev and Asahi held Foster's talks". The Australian. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- Bartholomeusz, Stephen (22 July 2019). "Asahi's $16b deal completes a 30-year dalliance with CUB". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- "Asahi's last hurdle cleared as details of tap contracts emerge". Brews News. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- Moloney, John. (1987) The Penguin bicentennial history of Australia: The story of 200 years, New York: The Viking Press, p. 219.
- G. P. Walsh. (1988) 'Resch, Emil Karl (1860 - 1930)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, pp. 365–366.
- "BREWERY AMALGAMATION". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 18, 638. Victoria, Australia. 11 April 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 24 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- "BREWERIES' POOL". The Australasian. Vol. LXXV, no. 1966. Victoria, Australia. 5 December 1903. p. 39. Retrieved 24 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The Old Clare Hotel, Chippendale". 5 July 2021.
- Smedley, David (1 July 2004). "CUB announces name change". Hospitality Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
- Toscano, Nick (12 July 2016). "Carlton United Breweries: Staff picket CUB factory as sackings stall beer production". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/pubs/bd/2001-02/02bd163.pdf
- Toscano, Nick. "'I'm not drinking it now': VB on the nose as pubs join fight for brewery jobs". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016.
- "Japanese Beer Company Asahi Buy Carlton & United Breweries In Huge Multi-Billion Deal". 10 daily. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- Asahi Group Holdings - Carlton & United Breweries (owned by Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV) Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 1 April 2020
- https://www.asahipremiumbeverages.com/
- https://www.drinks-insight-network.com/news/asahi-beverages-cub-asahi-premium-beverage-merger/
- https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/japans-asahi-beverages-to-unite-brewers-under-the-carlton-united-breweries-name/news-story/de2a9e401a8f0a88e0821031b64e0d2e?amp&nk=732fe839189dccfde7ed538fa1b7813e-1688350646
- https://theshout.com.au/asahi-buys-selected-asm-liquor-brands/
- https://cub.com.au/carlton-united-breweries-and-asahi-premium-beverages-to-combine/
- "Beer - Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)". Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- "Cider - Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)". Retrieved 21 January 2017.
- "Spirits - Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)". Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Sources
- Deutsher, Keith M. (2012). The Breweries of Australia (2nd ed.). Glebe, NSW: Beer & Brewer Media. ISBN 9780987395214.
External links
- Official website
- History of the Foster's Group, Fosters.com